NRA ILA

State constitutions are an essential part of federalism in that they define and limit the powers of state governments to prevent the erosion of individual rights. While the Second Amendment to our federal constitution enshrines our right to keep and bear arms, several states have failed to protect those rights in their constitutions — or, worse, in practice. Regarding the lack of state constitutional protection, Iowa is in the company of New York, California, Minnesota, New Jersey and Maryland — states that are openly hostile to gun rights.

South Carolina senators will talk about a bill that would loosen the requirements for carrying a gun. That bill did not move last year, but it may this year. It was first introduced to the Senate last February and would allow South Carolinians to carry a firearm without a permit.

On Wednesday, January 31st, the Hawaii House Committee on Water and Land will hold a hearing on House Bill 1970 sponsored by Representative Dee Morikawa (D-16). HB 1970 would allow an individual who is at least ten years or older to hunt under the close supervision of a licensed hunter who is at least twenty-one years of age prior to completing a hunter safety course. The legislation would further support Hawaii’s strong hunting heritage by ensuring the vital contributions made by hunters to conservation efforts, game management and the economy are preserved for generations to come. Click the “Take Action” button below to contact members of the House Committee on Water and Land and urge them to SUPPORT HB 1970!

Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux told reporters on Sunday gun owners will have one year to register their existing firearms through a “simple, quick, free” process that can be done online.The process requires them to provide a detailed description of the firearm as well as proof of identity.

TV host Mike Rowe likes to illustrate how attitudes have changed over the years by recalling the time he and a classmate brought a gun to his high school in Baltimore — not just any gun, but a sniper rifle.“We walked in the school, had the gun over my shoulder, walking down a crowded hall and the principal saw me and said, ‘Hey, what do you have there?’ And I handed it to him and said, ‘It’s a Mauser. Check it out. It’s an old German sniper rifle,’” Mr. Rowe said.

Next week, the Senate Law & Justice Committee is scheduled to consider and vote on several anti-gun bills, including Substitute SB 5444 to create a back-door registry and 10 day waiting period on commonly owned semi-automatic firearms. Please contact members of the Senate Law & Justice Committee and urge them to oppose these gun control bills when they come up for a vote! Click the “Take Action" button below to contact your Senator.

The Iowa legislature is considering House Joint Resolution 13 to add a right to keep and bear arms to the state’s constitution. Should the introduced language eventually be adopted, the Hawkeye State would become the fourth – behind Louisiana, Missouri, and Alabama – to explicitly designate strict scrutiny as the required judicial standard for adjudicating restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms.

As previously reported last week, Senate Bill 2046 was introduced, aimed at criminalizing certain firearm parts, accessories and modifications. The trend continued this week as more anti-gun legislation was filed prior to the close of the bill introduction deadline.